Breakaway antenna

Abstract

An antenna mount includes a frame formed by a front plate and a rear plate connected by a separator, which has a concave seat centrally located on its upper surface. A rotator element is pivotally secured between the front and rear plates, and is rotatable either clockwise or counterclockwise through the support frame. The upper portion of the rotator has a threaded opening into which an antenna can be mounted, while a spring mounted piston is provided at the bottom end of the rotator. When an antenna is mounted in the rotator and is upright, the piston is securely engaged on the seat. The antenna mount is installed on a vehicle so that upon encountering an obstacle while moving either forward or backward, the spring mounted piston becomes disengaged from the seat, causing the rotator and antenna to pivot either forward or backward in response to the force. The antenna can be reset by lifting the antenna until the antenna mount returns to a locked position and the antenna is again upright.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a mounting device for antennas, and more particularly for antennas used on vehicles which use tall antennas. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A typical aerial antenna mounted to the exterior body of the vehicle is constructed as a series of concentric segments which allow the antenna to be extended to a maximum length by “stretching” the antenna so that its segments are linearly arranged, and to be retracted by collapsing the segments down to the length of one segment. This type of construction, while acceptable for light duty antennas such as the antennas found on many cars, it is unsuitable for the large, heavy duty antennas mounted on military vehicles. As military equipment becomes more sophisticated and more reliant on radio or other airwave transmissions, more and more equipment are requiring mounted antennas mounted on the vehicles. Such military antennas are typically at least 15-20 feet tall and 1.5″ or larger...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] The present invention provides an antenna mount which secures an antenna in an upright position while allowing the antenna to become disengaged from the upright position when the antenna encounters a low barrier or low clearance. Upon such imp

Problems solved by technology

This type of construction, while acceptable for light duty antennas such as the antennas found on many cars, it is unsuitable for the large, heavy duty antennas mounted on military vehicles.

When a heavy duty type antenna is mounted on a moving military vehicle and the antenna encounters an obstruction overhead of the vehicle, the impact of the antenna against the obstruction will cause the antenna to break.

Although several different types of mounting devices and other protection devices have been developed to prevent antenna breakage due to obstructions, the designs are generally suitable only for light duty antennas and cannot withstand the size and conditions associated with military antennas.

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